Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-05-06

CHApTER y.

size seat 20 h N. ii u14Il' Knew Wa
think OF hlm--certainly as som tia NC scarce
ly human, Tor humanity OF F srr-.s' typt
had never before dawned upon oAe. til
now changeless horizon of his sad lie. He
had never heard Of Col or OF heaven, ex-
cept in suct wars as did not give him any
idea OF tier bless goodness ard peace; he
hal ne, e. heard OF the angels at all, or per
haps he might have likenet F-rrcrs - one
of them: Int as it was. h. simply. in bis IN
formed and ignorant mind, thought OF how
he should Ike TO be in circus CT which
''the swell was boss"
The soldier guessed something Of what was
passing through his mind.
care YOU coldf he asllei in his kindly
voice, the voice which hal brought comfort
to many and many an aching and weary
heart.
The boy nodded 'Aye, sir" and shiv-
cred.
'Well, never mind, my lad, you shall he
warm by and By. Oh, what's your namef'
''They call me Houp-La," the boy re-
piled.
''Houp-La, ahl A very likely name for
you. But what is your real namep
"Tom Snow" hesitatingly. "Leastways,
that was wot old Mrs. Wilson used to tell
me my name wos."
Sand who il Mrs. Wilson,"
''She's dead. She wos the lady wot kept
the wardrobes."
Involuntary this soldiers lips relaxed
into smile, and the boy struck In eagerly:
''She wos VERY good to me-, wos Old Mrs.
Wilson. She wos a VERY kind lady. Some
times she used to give me my tea"
Sand how long has she been deadF'
I Oh
then"
Ferrers smiled again. "You're not very
big one now, my 10y. How old are your
Twelve. Going on thirteen, SIR"
'Ahr' Then, after q pause. "Can you
r,.dc
The brown ;ls1d was vigorously sha'Ic",,
and tho blue eyes s:arel widely at The q IS
ton.
'Or writer
Tho head was shaken again. "No; but
can do the snake trick and the wriggiing
dodge-t' re both VERY difficult,
eagerly.
Ferrers laughed Eyes, I know. Pvs
seen you do them both. Now here we are, y
as the stopped at the door Of tho officers
quarters "Come with me-"
There were several officers, some in uni
form and some in plain clothes, standing
about the doorway. who stared in surprise
a. Ferrer- followed by tia little acrobat
alighted from the cab.
''Why, Bottles" cried one Of them, "whal
are you up to nowr'
At it againr asked another.
"Yes, at it again. I'll tell you ell about il
by and BY" said Bottles, good naturally,
and disappeared with his strange com
panion.
'why, It is young Houp-La from thu
circus" exclaimed Lacy. JPN going attel
hin-er-to see what it means"
He found the favorite Of tbs regiment
which BOTTLES was to every man, from com
mending officer down to the last-joined sub
altern and mort lately-enlisted recruit, sit
ting in a big chair before the fire watching
the boy, who was crouched all Of heap o.
the bearskin rug, luxuriating in the heat
and warm light Of the bright flames which
blazed halfway up the chimney.
Bottles looked up. "Ah, is that you
Lacyl Come in
Lacy closed the door. and pushed tn:
easiest chair he could find up to the flreside
''Bootles," he said solemnly, 'pwray, ar,
you going to establish a Foundling-er-
Hospitali Because, If you are-you had
er-better take my advice and make it
headquarters at Ferwrers Court wraths
than in 1dlominster Bawracka"
Boobies laughed outright
"You mean young Houp-La there Oh
he's all right; he's going under Terry's care
Don't trouble about him; hell be in nc
bodys way, and Terry has been asking TO
extra help ever so long"
where did you pick him upf' aske
Lacy.
Down at tho circus That brute Frisc
was teaching him new trapeze trick, witt
the aid of that" pointing to the long whit
whip SGT up against the dressing-table
land stopped him and brought younl
Houp-La away. Thats ALL"
''Of course" Lacy murmured TIT goe
without saying. And-er-how did the ele
giant Mr. Fwrisco come OFF,
He wolloped 'im," put in young Hour
La, Jerking his thumb towards Bottles,
whole world Of delight shining in his brigh
and intelligent eyes.
"Ahl walloped him, did her repeate
Lacy with interest; ''and what did Nh
Fwrisco say to thatr'
"'Owled," ans wered the boy tsrsely, hold
ing both his hands to the warmth Of the fire
He had learned one lesson, this little circu
rider, and that was to make few words q
q very long way. Both his hearers laughed
and then Lacy asked Bottles how it wa
that he had CHANGED to be in the circus q
that time Of dayi
''Oh, was going down to the club, and
happened to hear young Houp- La screamin
q passed. That was all about it." care
lsssly. 'After al It Il a very simple matter
he will b under Terry's charge-go t
school, and make himself useful"
''rm to DO among the 'orses," explaine
the boy, suddenly finding his tongue, an
turning his blazing eyes upon Lacy; San
I'm to have top boots and tall at, like Nj
Frisco, and 20 out with the kerridge. And
my word, it were good to see i'm this alter
noon e come in, and e see wot e were u
70, and when . 1t out at me, tho capting,
1ts out at i'm, and g sands i'm flying dow
In the sawdust-and then," excitsdly, go
and then the capting q give him proper.
never see such wollopingi Mr.. Frisco,
won't do no double somerset tonight,
won't. And them" getting on to his feet
and standing a small skinny figure, lookin
smaller than he really was by reason Of IL
shabby old tights, worn and torn, with her
and there spangle still cllnging to them
'.and then, Mr.. Frisco, e drops down at las!
and o lies accusing AMI a-swearing like hur
rear, and the capting . says, Dye ,van
some moro O. thisl Stop that ERE row.
saws. Dye 'earg Inever see nothink 81
good afore," fairly chuckling. with i
own whip too-that was the best Of it."
sit does cut" continued young Houp-La
nodding at the white thong. 81 know i
we'll" Then his poor, pinched little fac
Frightened up into positive radiance. 'Bu
the capting amt never going to let me 6
back to 'im-never no more"
"Here is Terry. Now you shall 60 alon
with him and ave soma dinner AMI tn
and some warm clothei. And mind, your
not to go outside the barrack gates. Do yol
hearF'
'Yes. sir" then aided earnestly, and look
ing his new master straight in the face
mot if wos 10 swing for it."
Bottles laughed, but stayed the led me
ment before Terry took him away.
Look here, my boy. Do you know wha
o lie isr'
'Yes, sir, I do"
'sWell, / want you to remember this
That whatever happens to you, whateve
trouble you may get into, you must neve
tell ! lie by way of trying to save yourself